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Sergeant Steeley, USMC
Escorting a Fallen
Comrade back home
A Letter From A Friend
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Last week, while traveling to Chicago on business, I noticed a Marine sergeant traveling with a folded flag, but did not put
two
and two together. After we boarded our flight, I turned to the
sergeant, who'd been invited to sit in First Class (across from
me) and inquired if he was heading home.
No, he responded.
Heading out I asked ?
No. I'm escorting a soldier home.
Going to pick him up ?
No. He is with me right now. He was killed in Iraq.
I'm taking him home to his family.
The realization of what he had been asked to do hit me like a punch to the gut. It was an honor for him. He told me that,
although he didn't know the soldier, he had delivered the news of his passing to the soldier's family and felt as if he
knew them
after many conversations in so few days. I turned back to him,
extended my hand, and said, Thank you. Thank you for doing what you do so my family and I can do what we do.
Upon landing in Chicago the pilot stopped short of the gate and
made the following announcement over the intercom.
"Ladies and gentlemen, I would like to note that we have had the
honor of having Sergeant Steeley of the United States Marine Corps join us on this flight.
He is escorting a fallen comrade
back home to his family.
I ask that you please remain in your seats when we open the forward door to allow Sergeant Steeley
to deplane and receive his fellow soldier. We will then turn off
the seat belt sign."
Without a sound, all went as requested. I
noticed the sergeant
saluting the casket as it was brought off
the plane, and his action
made me realize that I am proud to be
an American.
So here's a public Thank You to our military Men and Women for what you do so we can live the way we do.
signed: Stuart Margel -- Washington, D.C.
Here are two very touching photos honored at this years
International Picture of the Year.
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First Place
Todd Heisler The Rocky Mountain News
When 2nd Lt. James Cathey's body arrived at the Reno Airport,
Marines climbed into the cargo hold of the plane and draped the
flag over his casket as passengers watched the family gather on the tarmac.
During the arrival of another Marine's casket last year at Denver
International Airport, Major Steve Beck described the scene as
so powerful:
"See the people in the windows? They sat right
there in the plane, watching those Marines. You gotta wonder
what's going through their minds, knowing that they're on the
plane that brought him home," he said. "They will remember
being on that plane for the rest of their lives. They're going to
remember bringing that Marine home. And they should."
pic 82 |
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Second Place
Todd Heisler The Rocky Mountain News
The night before the burial of her husband's body, Katherine
Cathey refused to leave the casket, asking to sleep next to his
body for the last time. The Marines made a bed for her, tucking
in the sheets below the flag. Before she fell asleep, she opened her laptop computer and played songs that reminded her of
'Cat,' and one of the Marines asked if she wanted them to
continue standing watch as she slept.
"I think it would be kind
of nice if you kept doing it," she said. "I think that's what he
would have wanted."
pic 83 |
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"No arsenal, no weapon in the arsenals of the world, is so formidable as the will and moral courage of free men and
women." -- Ronald Reagan
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Red Fridays.
Very soon, you will see a great many people wearing Red every
Friday. The reason? Americans who support our troops used
to be called the "silent majority." We are no longer silent, and are
voicing our love for God, Country and home in record breaking
numbers. We are not organized, boisterous or overbearing.
Many Americans, like you, me and all our friends, simply want to
recognize that the vast majority of America supports our troops. Our idea of showing solidarity and support for our
troops with dignity and respect starts this Friday and continues each and every Friday until the troops all come
home, sending a deafening message that
every red-blooded American who supports our men and women afar, will wear something red.
By word of mouth, press, TV -- let's make the United States on every Friday a sea of red much like a homecoming football
game in the bleachers.
If every one of us who loves this country will share this with acquaintances, coworkers,
friends, and family, it will not be long before the USA is covered in RED and it will let our troops know the once
"silent" majority is on their side more than ever, certainly more than the media lets on.
The first thing a soldier says when asked "What can we do to make things better for you?" is
..."We need your support and your prayers."
Let's get the word out and lead with class and dignity, by example, and wear something red every Friday.
We live in the land of the
Free, only because of the Brave !!
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